Cornerstone to Welcome Poythress for Invited Guest Lectures on the Topic of Redeemed Thinking
Dr. Vern S. Poythress, distinguished professor of New Testament, Biblical interpretation, and systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pa., has one response when faced with a cultural topic or issue: Read the Bible. With a multi-decade career as a reformed theologian and educator, Poythress will deliver two invited lectures titled “Redeeming Our Thinking: The Importance of Transformed and Renewed Minds for the Call of Christian Higher Education” at the Grand Rapids campus of Cornerstone University on August 20-21. During this two-day professional development retreat for faculty and staff, Poythress will affirm the centrality of Christ in all aspects of Christian higher education and discuss the necessity of approaching each academic discipline from a Christian worldview.
Poythress has taught for nearly 50 years at Westminster Theological Seminary, written more than 26 books, co-authored multiple books, and published numerous articles on understanding how to interpret the Bible. His breadth of academic interests span disciplines such as science, mathematics, apologetics, sociology, philosophy, history and more. Taking a macro perspective in his work, Poythress aims to direct readers toward the unwavering truth found in Scripture and the preeminence of Christ.
“While Dr. Poythress is truly a Christ-centered ‘polymath’ as J.I. Packer noted, most importantly, he loves God and wants faculty to enjoy the presence of God in their lives and then share that joy with students,” said Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, president of Cornerstone.
Poythress holds two doctoral degrees: a Doctor of Theology in New Testament from the University of Stellenbosch and a Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics from Harvard University. He completed a Master of Letters in New Testament at the University of Cambridge and both a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology in apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary. From the start of his college studies, Poythress received recognition for his academic achievements, graduating as valedictorian of his undergraduate class while earning a Bachelor of Science in mathematics at the California Institute of Technology.
A self-proclaimed “book person” who writes accessible books for Christian believers, Poythress draws upon the influence of theologians such as Abraham Kuyper, Cornelius Van Til, and Geerhardus Vos. A member of the Evangelical Theological Society and Linguistic Association of Canada and the United States and an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, he has taught courses in Biblical hermeneutics, theology, and exegesis, including classes such as Theology of Science, The Book of Revelation, Theology of Language and Interpretation, and Parables and Miracles of Christ. Beyond his seminary teaching responsibilities, Poythress previously served as editor of the Westminster Theological Journal and as an instructor at the Summer Institute of Linguistics.
To hear esteemed Christian thought leaders at Cornerstone, view the calendar for upcoming events. For more information about how to learn from Cornerstone’s dedicated Christian faculty as a student in one of more than 65 in-demand degree programs, request information online or call the Admissions Office at 616.949.5300 to speak with an enrollment counselor today.
